Last Updated 26/07/2021

Nottingham Trent University

GCSE Equivalent Qualifications for Initial Teacher Training (ITT)

GCSEs are part of the entry requirements for Initial Teacher Training courses. Due to the specific criteria set for gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), we are unable to accept all alternative qualifications generally considered equivalent to GCSEs. Below are details of what we can and cannot accept as alternatives. As part of these requirements, we are only able to accept official certificates or certified statements of results issued by the awarding body as evidence of gained qualifications.

Please note: the requirements differ for Early Years, Primary and Secondary Teacher Training courses, so please contact us if you are unsure as to what qualifications will meet the entry requirements for your chosen course.

Contents1. What is not acceptable?2. Common GCSE equivalent qualifications3. International / EU Applicants4. GCSE English- PGCE (Early Years, Primary, Secondary)/School Direct (Primary and Secondary)/BAPrimary/Assessment Only (Early Years, Primary and Secondary)5. GCSE Maths- PGCE (Early Years, Primary, Secondary)/School Direct (Primary and Secondary)/BAPrimary/Assessment Only (Early Years, Primary and Secondary)6. GCSE Science- PGCE (Early Years, Primary)/School Direct (Primary)/BA Primary/Assessment Only QTS (Primaryand Early Years Initial Teacher Training)7. Advice for applicants who do not have a GCSE

1. What is not acceptable?

• Access to HE course – Key skills components and Functional skills components• Level 2 Key Skills / Functional Skills in Application of Number (Maths) and Communication (English)• Certificates at Level 2 in Adult Literacy and Numeracy• Modules in any Foundation Degree or Degree course• Master degree modules and the English for Academic Purposes• IELTS (Note: this may be an entry requirement as well as the GCSE equivalence)• A Level / AS-Levels at any grade (although they are a higher level they don’t cover the breadth and

depth of a GCSE)• ONC / OND• BTEC Level 3 - any BTEC Level 3 qualification does not carry the breadth and depth of a GCSE• University of Cambridge “English for Speakers of other Languages” or “Certificate of English Language

Skills” (Higher)• International / EU English Language qualifications deemed ‘Second Language’ by ENIC (what was NARIC).

Last Updated 26/07/2021

2. Common GCSE Equivalent Qualifications

Below are the acceptable grades from GCSE, CSE and O Level.

3. International / EU Applicants

We can accept international qualifications which are considered GCSE A*-C by ENIC (what was NARIC). We will require the official and translated certificate from you during your application process but will carry out our own checks directly with ENIC. For qualifications that ENIC assess, if they deem English to be studied as a ‘Second Language’ then we cannot accept it.

4. GCSE English

Suitable equivalent qualifications for PGCE (Early Years, Primary, Secondary)/School Direct (Primary and Secondary)/BA Primary/Assessment Only (Early Years, Primary and Secondary).

Any UK board (includes old awarding bodies such as MEG, SEG and NICCEA): • GCSE English (Language only), grade A*-C or grades 4-9• O Level English, grade A-C or 1-3.• CSE English, English language or English studies, grade 1.

Scottish Qualifications Authority: • National 5, Intermediate 2, Skills for Work National 5.• Standard Grade – Credit Level (a credit level is grades 1-2).

European Baccalaureate: • A score of 6/10 or higher in English (we can accept a First or Second Language).

University of London Examinations and Assessment Council: • Certificate of attainment in English at Level 4 or above.

Irish Republic Awards: In or after 1975 - Irish Leaving Certificate with the subject ‘English’. Grading system below depending on if they took them before or after 2016:

• Up to and including 2016

Ordinary Level Every subject passed at Ordinary Level, where grades of O1-O4 (or A-C / A1-C3) have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*-C / 9-4 standard.

Higher Level Every subject passed at Higher Level, where grades of H1-H7 (or A-D / A1-D3) have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*C / 9-4 standard.

• 2017 onwards

Ordinary Level Every subject passed at Ordinary Level, where grades of O1-O4 have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*-C / 9-4 standard.

Higher Level Every subject passed at Higher Level, where grades of H1-H6 have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*C / 9-4 standard.

International Baccalaureate: • English grade 4 or above at Standard Level.• English ‘passed’ at Higher Level.

IGCSE: • IGCSE in English Language grade A*-C or grades 4-9• IGCSE English First Language grade A*-C or grades 4-9

GCSE English Equivalency Test • Please note NTU does not currently offer equivalency tests.• We accept the GCSE equivalency taken via equivalencytesting.com and astarequivalency.co.uk• We also accept GCSE equivalency tests previously obtained at NTU or another University

5. GCSE Maths

Suitable equivalent qualifications PGCE (Early Years, Primary, Secondary)/School Direct (Primary and Secondary)/BA Primary/Assessment Only (Early Years, Primary and Secondary).

Any UK board (includes old awarding bodies such as MEG, SEG and NICCEA): • GCSE Mathematics grade A*-C or grades 4-9• GCSE Additional Mathematics grade A*-C or grades 4-9• GCSE Application of Maths when combined with Methods of Maths A*-C in both or grades 4-9• GCE O-Level Mathematics (only), grade A-C or 1-3.• CSE Mathematics grade 1.• O-Level or AO-Level in Additional Mathematics grade A-C.

Scottish Qualifications Authority:

Last Updated 26/07/2021

Last Updated 26/07/2021

• National 5, Intermediate 2, Skills for Work National 5.• Standard Grade – Credit Level (a credit level is grades 1-2)

European Baccalaureate: • A score of 6/10 or higher is acceptable in place of GCSE grade C

BTEC/TEC/BEC suitable for Secondary and PCET only: • Higher National Certificate or Diploma Award in Mathematics.• Any National Certificate or National Diploma Award that incorporates a pass with Merit or Distinction in

Mathematics at Level 2 or higher.

Irish Republic Awards: In or after 1975 - Irish Leaving Certificate with the subject ‘English’. Grading system below depending on if they took them before or after 2016:

• Up to and including 2016

Ordinary Level Every subject passed at Ordinary Level, where grades of O1-O4 (or A-C / A1-C3) have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*-C / 9-4 standard.

Higher Level Every subject passed at Higher Level, where grades of H1-H7 (or A-D / A1-D3) have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*C / 9-4 standard.

• 2017 onwards

Ordinary Level Every subject passed at Ordinary Level, where grades of O1-O4 have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*-C / 9-4 standard.

Higher Level Every subject passed at Higher Level, where grades of H1-H6 have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*C / 9-4 standard.

International Baccalaureate: • Maths grade 4 or above at Standard Level.• Maths ‘passed’ at Higher Level.

IGCSE: • IGCSE in Mathematics grade A*-C or grades 4-9

GCSE Mathematics Equivalency Test • Please note NTU does not currently offer equivalency tests.• We accept the GCSE equivalency taken via equivalencytesting.com and astarequivalency.co.uk• We also accept GCSE equivalency tests previously obtained at NTU or another University

6. GCSE Science

Suitable equivalent qualifications for PGCE (Early, years, Primary)/School Direct (Primary)/BA Primary/Assessment Only QTS (Primary and Early Years Initial Teacher Training).

Any UK board (includes old awarding bodies such as MEG, SEG and NICCEA): The following GCSEs in Science are accepted with grades A*-C or grades 4-9

• GCSE Additional Science• GCSE Additional Applied Science• GCSE Biology• GCSE Chemistry• GCSE Electronics• GCSE Environmental Science• GCSE Further Additional Applied Science• GCSE Human Health and Physiology• GCSE Physics• GCSE Human Biology• O Level in Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology at grade A-C or 1-3.• CSE in Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology at grade 1.

Scottish Qualifications Authority: • National 5, Intermediate 2, Skills for Work National 5.• Standard Grade – Credit Level (a credit level is grades 1-2)

European Baccalaureate: • A score of 6/10 or higher is acceptable in place of GCSE grade C.

Cambridge Nationals • Cambridge National Certificate Level 2 Science = Pass (Note the certificate must be requested to

determine whether qualification is level 1 or 2.

BTEC: • BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Science / Applied Science = 1 GCSE• BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Science / Applied Science = 2 GCSE• BTEC Level 2 Diploma Science / Applied Science = 4 GCSE• BTEC First Certificate in Science / Applied Science = 2 GCSE• BTEC First Diploma in Science / Applied Science = 4 GCSE• BTEC First Award Application of Science = 1 GCSE• BTEC First Award Principles of Applied Science = 1 GCSE

Irish Republic awards: In or after 1975 - Irish Leaving Certificate with the subject ‘English’. Grading system below depending on if they took them before or after 2016:

• Up to and including 2016

Ordinary Level Every subject passed at Ordinary Level, where grades of O1-O4 (or A-C / A1-C3) have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*-C / 9-4 standard.

Higher Level

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Last Updated 26/07/2021

Every subject passed at Higher Level, where grades of H1-H7 (or A-D / A1-D3) have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*C / 9-4 standard.

• 2017 onwards

Ordinary Level Every subject passed at Ordinary Level, where grades of O1-O4 have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*-C / 9-4 standard.

Higher Level Every subject passed at Higher Level, where grades of H1-H6 have been achieved, may be considered comparable to GCSE A*C / 9-4 standard.

International Baccalaureate: • Science grade 4 or above at Standard Level.• Science ‘passed’ at Higher Level.

IGCSE: • IGCSE in Science grade A*-C or grades 4-9• IGCSE in Biology, Chemistry or Physics grade A*-C or grades 4-9• IGCSE in Physical Science, Coordinated Sciences or Combined Science grade A*-C or grades 4-9

GCSE Science Equivalency Test: • Please note NTU does not currently offer equivalency tests.• We accept the GCSE equivalency taken via equivalencytesting.com• We also accept GCSE equivalency tests previously obtained at NTU or another University

GNVQ: • GNVQ Part One Intermediate Pass = 2 GCSE• GNVQ Intermediate Pass = 4 GCSE

OCR: • OCR National Award in Science = 2 GCSE• OCR National Certificate in Science = 4 GCSE

7. Advice for applicants who do not have a GCSE

Applicants who do not have a GCSE or other suitable qualification must be advised to take a GCSE as a private candidate. For full information, refer them to AQA: https://www.aqa.org.uk/student-and-parent-support/private-candidates/subjects-and-qualifications

AQA: • AQA Level 1/2 certificate in Double Science

grade A*-C or grades 4-9